CENTRAL COAST - 10 TO 15 DECEMBER 2022

 

10 DECEMBER

A bike/hike to Woy Woy Waterfall Pool in Brisbane Water National Park.

I started at the carpark at the beginning of the Tunnel Trail. I followed this trail by bike and turned left at the intersection with the Mullet Creek Trail. It was downhill till the trail ended. A fun ride with some steep sections.

I chained my bike to a tree and followed a short track to the creek that led to the waterfall. It was very pretty here with the water shallowly cascading over the sandstone base of the creek. It was a hot day so the lizards were out sunning themselves.

It was a short distance down the creek to the waterfall which was a vertical drop of about 15 metres into a man-made pool. A track leads along the escarpment of the waterfall and eventually, leads a very steep rock scramble to the base of the escarpment. It continues on until it reaches the waterfall.

The waterfall was very pretty with the falls lightly spraying the surface of the pool. It is swimmable!  

Later, we drove to Sydney for a reunion dinner. It was a good night catching up with old friends, eating delicious food and downing a few beers and wines.

11 DECEMBER

We stayed overnight in Sydney and joined Mick and Deb for breakfast.

Back home, I had an ocean swim at Terrigal Haven to clear the cobwebs of the previous evenings indulgence.

13 DECEMBER

A hike with Angus to Box Head in Bouddi National Park. Angus’s car was 4wd so we drove to the carpark at the top of Tallows Beach.

The hike starts as a trail but soon turns into a track. The track was easy over rocks, tree roots and dirt. The trees had grown low and wide. This time of year, the trees shred their bark making the trucks and branches very colourful. There was a number of viewpoints along the way with amazing coastal views up and down the coast.

In the afternoon, we had a visit from my nephew Robert. It was so good to see him as covid restrictions and busy lives meant we hadn’t seen him for three years.

14 DECEMBER

An early snorkel at Terrigal Haven. It was a bit dull due to poor visibility. BUT suddenly, a massive sting ray appeared ghost-like just under me. It was a little too close for my comfort with the sting ray’s stinger swaying casually behind it. 😊

15 DECEMBER

I have been thinking of a kayak/hike journey to Scion Kop in Woy Woy Bay. Today was the day.

I parked at Goora Lane in Woy Woy Bay, launched the kayak and paddled for the far end of Woy Woy Bay. I landed the kayak three times, but I couldn’t find the track that was indicated on some maps. I persevered and paddled up the creek in search of the elusive path. The paddled was so good up this pristine creek but alas the creek came to an end and no track was to be found.

I’ll try another time when the tide is higher so I can get further up the creek.

BOUDDI NP BOX HEAD MTB - 21 AUGUST 2016

Today, a ride and hike to Box Head in Bouddi National Park.

The start of the ride is a steep road... well I walked part of it. Once at the summit the road is undulating with great coastal views and some views towards Brisbane Water.

There are a number of other tracks to divert towards to get a rough ride or out along one of the ridges. I stuck on the main road with a few view turnoffs.

The views never cease to inspire me. An added attraction was a dumped car along the road.

I rode partly along the Box Head track then chained my bike to a tree and continued on as a hike.

It is a great hike. Easy with coastal views and changing vegetation and some rock hopping. The final stage, leads around a short bend then wham... its the end and I was at Box Head with stunning views over Broken Bay, Pittwater and along the coast from Barrenjoey, Sydney.

A fence has been erected to block the last few metres on the Box Head cliff edge. Looking over the edge is a vertigo challenge.

A great bike/hike track.

I still had a bit of time, so I drove to nearby Killcare Surf Club for coffee and food.

The sun was shining and the beach looked so inviting so I had a little wander.

MOUNT ETTALONG MTB - 25 MAY 2016

Another sunny morning. I drove to Umina to check the surf. It was pretty big so I continued to Patonga Beach. Patonga is very sheltered but I was interested to see how a big swell affected it. No effect but it was so pretty.

I stopped on the way back at Mount Ettalong.


It is a short ride being 1.8 km but it has some of the best views on the Central Coast. I tis a single wide track over dirt and sandstone leading to a lookout over Umina and Box Head. Along the way there are short side tracks to sandstone ledges giving amazing views of Pearl Beach and south to Sydney.

There were some amazing tree formations - growing over and between the rocks

The views were spectacular on the whole ride. Each stop gave a slightly different perspective.

The final view was across Umina nd Box Head. The sun was directly into the eyes but the view would be heaps better later in the day.

A fun ride.

CENTRAL COAST - BOUDDI NP - BOX HEAD - MTB/HIKE - 7 december 2013

We parked at Grandview Crescent for the start of the bike and hike to Box Head.

It was an afternoon adventure. We walked/cycled up Hawke Head Drive till it levelled out some more then cycled onwards to the track to Box Head.

Along the way there were great views over Brisbane Waters and the beaches - Putty and Tallows.

We passed through a barrier gate after which there were a number of signs leading to other trails/tracks.

The hike to Box Head had good views north along the coast and south towards Broken Bay, Umina and Pittwater. We sat on the cliff point at Box head enjoying the view and the late afternoon sunshine.

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water NP - Box Head - MTB/HIKE - 19 july 2012

I had an old friend visiting for a few days so off we went for a cycle and walk at Box Head.

We tried driving along the dirt road but it was driving on mogals. In fear of another bog video, we returned to the beginning of the road, unloaded the bikes and peddled.

There were a few nice views along the way over Tallow Beach.



We wiggled around the gate and cycled as far as we could along the Box Head track. Then we chained the bikes and walked.

It was an interesting walk with a variety of flowers and gnarled trees. The walk surfaced was over sandstone and sand. Every so often, there was a view over the ocean coastline or towards Umina.

Eventually, the track came to an end at the tip of the cliff at Box Head. Great views over Pittwater and Broken Bay.

A little after this, I put my daypack down to have a rest but the pack was undone. Out fell my helmet and jumper and over the cliff edge they rolled. They lodged themselves about a third of the way down the cliff. Gone but not forgotten.

We returned the same way.

CENTRAL COAST - Box Head and Tallow Beach - HIKE - 26 August 2009

To get there drive to the end of Hawkes Nest Road. The road is very rough but there is parking on the plateau above tallow beach.
The walk to box head is easy. The vegetation varies from sparse to very thick. At times there are large flat rocks with dwarfed trees growing in the spaces between the rocks. There are also views over coast, broken bay, Brisbane waters and Sydney. The track ends at the tip of box head. It is a great spot to sit rest and enjoy the views over Sydney and broken bay.
The track to tallow is a fire trail. At two points there are tracks to the right that lead to Little Tallow beach. The first track is a dry creek that leads to the centre of the beach. This is an excellent isolated beach. Strangely, the south end near shore had a large amount of dead small crabs on the shore. I followed this track to little tallow beach and then it leads onwards to the base of Box Head.
Returning back, the track stays high on the rocks passing little tallow beach and onwards to Tallow Beach. It is another excellent beach. On the return, an echidna was eating by the side of the fire trail.

Time: 3 ½ hours to box head and return to little tallow beach and Box head and return to car park.

Best: views, bird calls, isolation, beaches, dwarfed trees.